The pharmacy industry has a variety of retail store sizes, from larger retail chains to smaller, "mom and pop" style establishments. No matter the size of the pharmacy, the same concerns for customers are at the forefront—wait times, customer service, prescription costs and insurance coverage. Big box retail pharmacists have the added pressure of fulfilling a high volume of prescriptions, sometimes adding up to over 600 scripts per day. Independent retail pharmacies have the opportunity to provide the same full line of products and services but with a more patient-centric mission, which means more focus is placed on educating patients and creating a more individualized pharmacy experience overall.

The Depot District's newest independent pharmacy, CarePlus Discount Pharmacy, strives to deliver this patient-centric experience with each visit by offering access to prescription drugs, compounding services, medical equipment and over the counter medicines, holistic vitamins, herbal supplements and teas. Wait times are typically less than 10 minutes in-store and pharmacists are available for one-on-one patient counseling, touching on topics such as regulating medicines and scheduling medication usage. For seniors struggling to manage their medication schedules, the pharmacy offers medications in pre-arranged bubble packaging that is both customizable and easy to take on the go. What's more, free home delivery is offered in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs within 24 to 48 hours of placing a prescription order, regardless of the amount of prescriptions filled. Their delivery drivers are HIPPA compliant and CPR certified.

According to owner Hansal Patel, the company "prides itself on its dedicated team of professionals who are often on a first-name basis with their clients." With a smaller operation, they have less staff turnover. The consistency in each team member's hours allows for regular interaction and the opportunity to develop deeper relationships with every customer.

Above all, the main goal of CarePlus is to create a friendly neighborhood stop, one where you know who you're working with and what type of service you will receive. Namrata Shah of CarePlus has said that, "larger retailers are often bound by corporate policies, but we have the unique opportunity to be flexible and make accommodations on a case-by-case basis to best serve our patients' needs. Many people think this individualized boutique care comes at a premium but we are proud to say that in many cases our medicines are cheaper than our chain competitors." CarePlus has bilingual services, accepts all prescriptions, all forms of payment and most insurance, including Workmen's Compensation, Medicare and Medicaid.

Mayor Robert J. Lovero commented, "CarePlus is a great addition to the Primary Care building and to the world class medical services available in our Depot District. I wish you the best of luck."